The structure of fungal biomass and diversity of cultivated micromycetes in Antarctic soils (progress and Russkaya Stations)
- Authors: Marfenina O.E.1, Nikitin D.A.1, Ivanova A.E.1
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Affiliations:
- Faculty of Soil Science
- Issue: Vol 49, No 8 (2016)
- Pages: 934-941
- Section: Soil Biology
- URL: https://journals.rcsi.science/1064-2293/article/view/223481
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S106422931608007X
- ID: 223481
Cite item
Abstract
The distribution of the fungal biomass and diversity of cultivated microscopic fungi in the profiles of some soils from East (Progress Station, valleys of the Larsemann Hills oasis) and West (Russkaya Station, the Marie Byrd Land) Antarctica regions were studied. The structure of the biomass (spore/mycelium and live cells/dead cells) was analyzed by fluorescence microscopy with staining using a set of coloring agents: calcofluor white, ethidium bromide, and fluorescein diacetate. The species composition of the cultivated microscopic fungi was determined on Czapek’s medium. The fungal biomass in the soils studied is not high (on the average, 0.3 mg/g of soil); the greatest biomass (0.6 mg/g) was found in the soil samples with plant residues. The fungal biomass is mainly (to 70%) represented by small (to 2.5 μm) spores. About half of the fungal biomass is composed of living cells. There are differences in the distribution of the fungal biomass within the profiles of different primitive soils. In the soil samples taken under mosses and lichens, the maximal biomass was registered in the top soil horizons. In the soils with the peat horizon under stone pavements, the greatest fungal biomass was registered in the subsurface horizons. Thirty-eight species of cultivated microscopic fungi were isolated from the soils studied. Species of the genus Penicillium and Phoma herbarum predominated.
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About the authors
O. E. Marfenina
Faculty of Soil Science
Author for correspondence.
Email: marfenina@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow, 119991
D. A. Nikitin
Faculty of Soil Science
Email: marfenina@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow, 119991
A. E. Ivanova
Faculty of Soil Science
Email: marfenina@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow, 119991